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Newspaper
Freeport Journal
Location
Freeport, Illinois, United States of America
Date
May 04, 1881
Page
2
The Freeport City Council, praised for acting boldly, orders prices for a new bridge at Stephenson street and a depot, directs removal of scales, and enforces cow curbs and street cleaning. Pay for laborers raised to 1.50 a day. Journal named corporation paper for the year.
Ohio lawmakers passed Sunday restriction laws prohibiting sale of spirits on Sunday without a physician's prescription and penalizing Sunday misbehavior with fines or short jail terms. The writer argues Illinois should adopt Sunday rest to promote peace, noting Ohio's advantages and urging similar action in Illinois.
Gen J M Genl asserts no complicity in government frauds via the star route mail service and challenges proof of illegality. He blames the last administration for opaque postal rules and asserts laws and custom hid many misdeeds while remaining technically within bounds. The plea calls for thorough renovation.
The unveiling ceremony in the capital featured Chief participant Quartermaster Isnowles who recalled Farragut’s tying to the raft at Mobile Bay. President Garfield accepted the statue in eloquent terms as ex-Postmaster General Maynard and Senator Voorhees gave addresses. The procession drew one of the capital's finest crowds.
Conkling claims the President has placed him in a director’s bind, forcing him to choose murder over self-destruction, and he states he will commit murder.
Grier of Pennsylvania, the original Garfield man in the Chicago Convention, has been offered but declines the post.
Nsamburg Butler recently delivered a violent tirade against Mahone in the Senate and closed by denouncing Senator Frye's speech as a libel on the South. He will soon hear responses from the Maine and Virginia Senators likely to make his ears tingle.
Col Fred Grant has resigned from the army as First Lieutenant of the Fourth Cavalry and Lieutenant Colonel on the staff of the Lieutenant General to become civil engineer for the Chicago Texas and Mexican Central Railway. His father in law IL Ironore of Chicago is prominently connected with the road.
Attorney General McVeagh issues a full opinion at the President’s request on Caswell’s navy register correction sought to place him above Stevenson. The ruling declares Paymaster Edward Bellows not in service, and reinstatement by ex-president is illegal.
The piece laments ongoing Senate deadlock and pits the Democrats against constitutional authority. It accuses Democrats of inverting old rules in the South, portraying their methods as lawless and ingrained vices. It argues the Constitution is praised when convenient but rejected when it opposes party policy.
In Springfield hotels decline to entertain the Fisk Jubilee Singers citing race. The piece condemns the hotels for honoring lewd patrons while denying refined colored guests, arguing state reveres a martyred president and urging legislative action against such establishments after their fundraising for Fisk University.
Ex-Assistant Postmaster General Brady defends Star Route finances in a lengthy letter to the New York Herald. He denies contractor collusion and says no fraud was proven by Congress, while authorities withhold further details pending investigation and caution public judgment amid sensational early reports.
Ex Senator S W Dorsey writes to Postmaster General Thomas James demanding written findings on contracts linked to his name amid ongoing press reports of Post Office fraud. He seeks swift investigation status to rebut unjust imputations and protect his reputation.
William Dyas of Utica New York claims the honor, born June 1 1847, enlisted August 12 1862 in the One Hundred and Seventeenth New York Regiment and mustered out in 1865. J T Suter of Chicago was seven months younger than Dyas at enlistment.
The President has 217 nominations to the Senate awaiting action including 05 postmasters 14 army officers 6 navy officers 17 collectors of customs 3 surveyors of customs 11 consuls 4 judicial 6 diplomatic 8 collectors of internal revenue 7 United States marshals 6 United States district attorneys 15 receivers of land offices 5 registers of land offices 4 Indian agents 1 Governor of Territory 2 associate justices of the supreme court of territories 2 assistant appraisers 1 assistant treasurer of the United States 1 naval officer of customs 2 surveyor generals 7 miscellaneous. Names listed include William W. Phelps minister to Austria William Robertson collector of customs New York Elmer second assistant postmaster general W A M Grier third assistant postmaster general Hitt assistant secretary of state and Price commissioner of Indian affairs.
April 28 Kansas City Missouri reports a major flood from the Missouri and Kaw rivers. Dykes failed at Hell's Half-Acre and Ninth Street, submerging districts, uprooting 300 families, and flooding 1000 houses in West Kansas. Five people drown near Armourdale. A barge sinkage causes $5,000 in losses. East Atchison evacuates, with 1000 residents displaced and cattle losses of $8,000 recorded nearby.
Louisville report says a volcanic outbreak began at N. F. A. Jarnagin’s farm in southern Ohio county. Residents observed gas escaping and a burning ground. Jarnagin investigated and a heat source appeared to ignite the area, drawing many visitors and wonder.
The Governor designated ten state delegates for the Canal Convention to be held in Davenport on May 25. The appointees include Hon. Thos. J. Henderson Princeton Geo. RE. Adams Chicago Lawrence Weldom Bloomington G. L. Fort Lacon Henry Ward Sycamore Jesse Spalding Chicago J. S. Starr Peoria P. C. Hayes Morris BR. H. McClellan Galena James L. Camp Dixon.
General Grant gave a speech in Mexico on annexation arguing that the United States would not accept Mexico even if most inhabitants favored it. He recounted Santo Domingo and urged improving existing territory, believing stronger neighbors deter any foreign designs. His stance contrasts with annexation advocates of Canada and Mexico.
A Rawlings report says Colorow chief and seventy five lodges of the Utes are three miles from White River post. Colorow told Colonel Moore to withdraw all troops within five days, signaling potential trouble. Colorow is second in authority to Jack in the White River band.
Virginia reports it built five of the twenty eight new iron furnaces in the United States last year. The claim highlights Virginia's share among states in industrial expansion amid national infrastructure growth.
The May 2 1881 issue from Baileyville Illinois notes a favorable agricultural outlook after a late winter. April was promising. no flood damage locally. farmers seed spring crops and plan corn planting soon. Livestock emerged healthy. hogs praised amid slanders by foreign powers. Suggests amber cane sorghum sugar syrup prospects and calls for a local sorghum sugar mill and creamery to boost economy.
Thousands of acres in the American Bottoms of Southern Illinois are submerged as the Mississippi River breaches its banks above Alton. The inundation adds to earlier flooding north of the region caused by the Sny levee burst.
An amusing addition to crime curiosities reports a counterfeiters plant seized at the South Carolina State Penitentiary. Detectives found dies and base, half, and quarter dollars ready for circulation. Columbia allegedly flooded with the bogus money and some guards are implicated.
A state Senate bill revising payment and protest rules for promissory notes and other writings proposes treating New Year’s Day Decoration Day Independence Day Christmas Day general election day and any governor or president designated thanksgiving day as the first day of the week Sunday for all purposes. If enacted the measure would effectively create those days as legal holidays in Illinois.
Two shiploads of Chinese immigrants reached San Francisco last week and stirred strong emotion across California. Republican leaders and the state committee pressed the U.S. Senate to ratify the pending Chinese treaty immediately. A mass meeting at the Grand Opera House in San Francisco last night voiced intensified anti Chinese sentiment.
The Springfield Journal reports the 204 members of both Illinois General Assembly chambers draw 1020 per day for pay. It notes this excludes clerks pages officers and other expenses, and estimates total daily cost to the state around 1800 per day when all costs are included.
In Yellow Creek last Friday a fire scare followed a stove pipe leak in a widow Devore's former house now occupied by Dr. Van Horn and William Andrews. A mason sealed crevices as onlookers noted a venting chimney misbuilt by Jake Winner of Freeport. The tale ends with a warning to landlords to ensure garret chimneys are properly constructed to avoid costly exits and tenant unrest.
Correspondence from Pittsburg Telegraph recounts a Civil War era style duel tale during the Crimea conflict. Three officers English French and American faced executioners duty in a televised mock trial. The Englishman and Frenchman behead with swift strokes. the Yankee’s turn ends fragmentary.
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